6 hours Ago By Korea Bizwire
The number of lost items reported in the Seoul subway system reached 152,540 in 2024. (Image courtesy of Seoul Metro) SEOUL, Feb. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — The number of lost items reported in the Seoul subway system reached 152,540 in 2024, marking a 4% increase from the previous year, according to Seoul Metro’s latest report released on February 27.
On average, 418 lost items were registered daily, meaning approximately one in every 61 subway passengers misplaced a belonging. The stations with the highest number of lost items were terminal stops, including Line 4’s Buramsan Station, Line 5’s Banghwa Station, and Line 3’s Ogeum Station. Seoul Metro explained that this trend is due to train inspections conducted at terminal stations before vehicles enter depots.
Cash, Wallets, and Unusual Finds A total of 5.69 billion won ($3.97 million) in cash was recovered, with 4.
39 billion won ($3.07 million) successfully returned to owners. The remaining 1.
3 billion won ($908,000) was handed over to the police. Wallets were the most frequently lost item, accounting for 23.7% of reports, followed by clothing (15.
3%), mobile phones (13.8%), bags (13.2%), and valuables (5.
8%). More than half (56.8%) of all lost items were reclaimed by their owners, while 27.
9% were transferred to the police and 15.3% remained in storage. Lost items in the subway often reflect contemporary trends.
Seoul Metro noted a sharp rise in misplaced plush keychains, a reflection of the growing popularity of ‘bag decoration’ among younger generations. Other unusual items reported included a reptile in a transport container, a mannequin head, and a barbershop sign. How to Retrieve Lost Items Passengers can check the police-run lost item portal ‘Lost112’ (www.
lost112.go.kr) by searching for the date and item category.
If an item is found, owners must bring identification to the designated station or lost and found center. To enhance accessibility, Seoul Metro operates a ‘Locker Retrieval Service,’ allowing owners to collect their items at any time during subway operating hours. Once a lost item is identified, Seoul Metro provides the locker location and access code, enabling retrieval with a small storage fee.
“We are committed to ensuring that important lost items are returned to their rightful owners and will donate unclaimed clothing and other items to welfare organizations after a designated period,” said Baek Ho, CEO of Seoul Metro. With lost items on the rise, Seoul Metro continues to refine its management system, ensuring both efficiency and accessibility for passengers in 2025 and beyond. Lina Jang ( linajang@koreabizwire.
com ).
